April 10th vs. Seattle - Home Opener Rout

[TheKilo]

Tito did manage Beckett pretty well today. It's still early in the season and with cold weather and long breaks in between innings' date=' limiting Beckett to 7 innings and 84 pitches was a good idea. No need to wear him out with a 13 run lead despite the fact that he probably would've had a complete game with a reasonable pitch count[/quote']

 

Agree 100%. On a cold day you gotta keep his PC/workload under control.

 

 

Beckett did his job. Offense did their job. Nice win.

[riverside sluggers]

I keep going back to JD Drew's homerun. As I said before that swing of his will get him doubles off the green monster and he'll also get balls to go over the monster/center field wall. Something cool in past few years Ive seen some first homeruns for new Sox players: Renteria & Payton both did it against RJ & the Yanks, Wily Mo against the Blue Jays, Dusty's first career homerun (BTW if yesterday was warmer his shot to center yesterday wouldve been gone), now JD Drew

 

He has hit safely in his first 7 games, I believe he also ended the 06 season a 3 or 4 game hitting streak. He starts off 10 for 25 (.400 avg) 2 Doubles, HR, 5 RBIs, 5 Runs, 2 Walks, 6 Ks. God this is what we have been missing in the 5 hole. Last season the Sox had the worst ranking in baseball for just about every category from it.

 

Last year (Trot, Tek, Wily Mo, Youkilis, Lowell) combined to hit: 138 for 579 (.238 avg) 36 Doubles, Triple, 14 HRs, 74 RBIs, 73 Runs, 79 Walks, 94 Ks, 2 for 7 SBs

[riverside sluggers]

Now' date=' Lugo isnt the prototypical high OBP leadoff guy.[/quote']

 

Just looking over this post Jacko and must say I disagree. For sure you could say that about Coco but not Julio. Last year before he was traded he had a .373 OBP in the 1st half, in 2005 he had a .362. Now in 2004 he had a .338 OBP but really that was his first season of playing more than 140 games. Im not expecting him to be an OBP machine but he should still post a 2005-ish OBP and be a solid leadoff guy to give pitchers trouble

[RedSoxRooter]

I keep going back to JD Drew's homerun.

 

The one thing that floored me was that on his deep fly out to the triangle in the first inning and the home run ball, he only used a three quarter swing. He didn't follow through on either.

 

Either he's got tremendous power or he's real good at getting the barrel on the ball. It was impressive.

[jacksonianmarch]

The one thing that floored me was that on his deep fly out to the triangle in the first inning and the home run ball, he only used a three quarter swing. He didn't follow through on either.

 

Either he's got tremendous power or he's real good at getting the barrel on the ball. It was impressive.

 

he has good power and my guess is he may be trying to tailor his swing for fenway. Its easier to hit the ball 420 feet to center than it is 380 to dead right.

[jacksonianmarch]

Just looking over this post Jacko and must say I disagree. For sure you could say that about Coco but not Julio. Last year before he was traded he had a .373 OBP in the 1st half' date=' in 2005 he had a .362. Now in 2004 he had a .338 OBP but really that was his first season of playing more than 140 games. Im not expecting him to be an OBP machine but he should still post a 2005-ish OBP and be a solid leadoff guy to give pitchers trouble[/quote']

 

I dont think Lugo is the 1.5 yr sensation he was in a Boston uniform. Call me a cynic. I dont think he will revert to his useless ways in Houston but I dont see him becoming a stud like he was in Tampa. Personally, I'd like him more as a 9 hitter to restart the lineup rather than a 1 hitter. Leadoff guys these days have some pop to them, and Lugo doesnt. I think he could post a .350OBP this yr. We'll see. He has been so topsy turvy in his career and SO bad last yr after the trade that he bears watching. Lets just say that he has shown flashes of being a solid leadoff hitter, he just needs to prove it now.

[riverside sluggers]

The one thing that floored me was that on his deep fly out to the triangle in the first inning and the home run ball, he only used a three quarter swing. He didn't follow through on either.

 

Either he's got tremendous power or he's real good at getting the barrel on the ball. It was impressive.

 

Even more impressive Rooter is the fact that it was on a changeup

[riverside sluggers]

I dont think Lugo is the 1.5 yr sensation he was in a Boston uniform. Call me a cynic. I dont think he will revert to his useless ways in Houston but I dont see him becoming a stud like he was in Tampa. Personally' date=' I'd like him more as a 9 hitter to restart the lineup rather than a 1 hitter. Leadoff guys these days have some pop to them, and Lugo doesnt. I think he could post a .350OBP this yr. We'll see. He has been so topsy turvy in his career and [b']SO bad last yr after the trade that he bears watching.[/b] Lets just say that he has shown flashes of being a solid leadoff hitter, he just needs to prove it now.

 

Oh please dont rever to Dodgers' fans dribble. I thought we were done with this argument

 

--He went from an everyday player to rotting on the bench (biggest case to why he spiraled downard in teh 2nd half)

--He switched leagues mid-season

--He switched coasts mid-season

[jacksonianmarch]

Oh plaease dont rever to Dodgers' fans dribble. I thought we were done with this argument

 

--He went from an everyday player to rotting on the bench

--He switched leagues mid-season

--He switched coasts mid-season

 

I agree, there were reasons for it. But lets not make excuses and sit back and think about this guy. The guy bounces his wife off his fists a few times, is pretty awful in Houston, comes to TB and reincarnates himself into a fine ballplayer for 1.5 seasons. He moves to LA where he sucked, then comes to Boston. At this point, is he the player the dodgers had? Probably not. Is the the player he was in TB? Probably not. Is he as bad as he was in Houston? Probably not. I'd assume he is a mix of all 3 and will be a serviceable player. But again, I like the light on power speed guys resetting my order rather than leading it off. Call it a personal preference.

[TheKilo]

he has good power and my guess is he may be trying to tailor his swing for fenway. Its easier to hit the ball 420 feet to center than it is 380 to dead right.

 

.....................

 

Re-read this sentence again, please.

[riverside sluggers]

At this point' date=' is he the player the dodgers had? Probably not.[/quote']

 

Well duh

[jacksonianmarch]

.....................

 

Re-read this sentence again, please.

 

it is easier to hit the ball 420 feet to straight away center than it is 380 dead pull. Why do you think CF has to be 400 feet minimum and the lines are as shallow as 305 in some parks. You get maximum distance by hitting the ball to dead center.